Chapter 77 WORK CONTRACT
(Eli's POV)
It's been two weeks.
Two full weeks of “resting well to recover.” as Julian had insisted.
Two weeks of Julian’s mother pretending to care about me.
“Did you sleep well, Eli?”
“You should drink more soup, Eli.”
“Be careful walking, Eli.”
Acting like a broke my limbs.
Her voice always sounds sweet. Like honey that might secretly be poison.
Two weeks of Lovia still smiling like a plastic doll and holding on to her lie that I slipped down the stairs by myself.
Two weeks of Julian oddly pampering me.
And two weeks of Anton being completely gone.
Which is a bit strange. Not even a bit— the ever present Anton suddenly disappearing is very strange.
Anton used to be everywhere.
Breakfast table.
Hallway.
Julian’s office.
Even in bed with us, joking and teasing until Julian threatened to throw him out of the window if he doesn't shut up and let us go to sleep.
I used to see him more than I see Julian, he's here even when Julian is away for work.
And now… nothing.
No Anton.
No messages.
No random appearances.
Just gone.
I don’t know how to safely ask Julian about it without sounding somehow.
So I haven’t asked.
But I’ve noticed.
Very much.
Still, the last two weeks were not completely terrible.
Julian has been… ridiculous.
In a good way.
If I stand up too fast, he appears beside me.
If I pick up something slightly heavy, he takes it away.
If I walk near the stairs—
He carries me.
Every single time.
At first I argued.
Then I realized arguing only makes him more stubborn.
So now I just sigh dramatically and let him do it.
Which brings us to today.
Today is different.
Today I am finally going to work!!
Not the “sit in his office and stare at him all day” type of work he used to suggest.
Actual work.
A real job.
I stand in the closet staring at my outfit for the tenth time.
White shirt and dark trousers.
Simple but neat, and professional enough.
I take a deep breath and run out of the closet.
“Julian!”
He’s sitting on the bed reading something on his tablet.
He looks up as I spin once.
“Is this okay?” I ask.
He studies me slowly, from head to toe. Then he nods once.
“Yes.”
Relief washes over me.
“Good,” I say proudly.
But before I can celebrate properly, Julian suddenly stands and pulls me toward him.
His hands settle on my waist.
“Where’s your ring?” he asks.
I blink.
“My ring?”
I look down at my hand.
My finger is empty.
Oh.
Right.
I don’t actually remember when I took it off.
Or lost it.
Or misplaced it.
“That’s… a good question,” I admit.
Julian sighs like he expected this.
Then he reaches into his pocket. And pulls out a ring.
My ring.
He takes my hand gently and slides it back onto my finger.
The metal feels familiar.
I roll my eyes.
“Like everyone in your company doesn’t already know I’m married to you.”
Julian leans closer.
“They know,” he says calmly. His thumb brushes over the ring. “But I like seeing it.”
My ears get warm.
I clear my throat.
“We’re going to be late,” I mumble.
He smirks slightly.
We walk out of the room together.
And when we reach the stairs—
Julian lifts me.
Again.
“Julian,” I sigh.
“You’ll survive,” he says.
“I’ve been surviving for two weeks, time to move on. I can walk down the stairs myself.”
“Stop complaining, before you earn yourself a spank.”
I give up and rest my arm around his shoulder.
When we reach the bottom of the stairs, his mother appears like she was waiting for us.
She watches Julian carry me with a disapproving look.
“You can stop carrying him now,” she says. “He’s not a child.”
Julian doesn't answer, he just keeps walking.
She frowns slightly.
“I forgot to tell you,” she continues. “We got an invite from the Devons a last week. It’d be nice if you can come.”
Julian doesn’t even slow down.
“I have work.”
And just like that, he walks past her and toward the door.
She looks shocked.
The driver is already outside waiting. He opens the car door.
Julian sets me inside carefully. Then he gets in beside me.
The drive is quiet.
But I’m too excited to care.
I’m going to work.
An actual job.
I stare out the window with a stupid grin.
Julian glances at me once. “You look suspicious.”
“I’m happy,” I say.
“That’s suspicious. Who gets excited about work?”
I elbow him lightly.
He doesn’t even react.
When we arrive at his company building, my excitement doubles.
Julian takes my hand as we walk inside.
His hold is not gentle, it's firm and possessive.
Every employee who sees us immediately straightens.
“Good morning, sir.”
“Morning, Mr. Thorne.”
Their eyes flick to me.
Then to our joined hands.
Whispers follow us.
Julian doesn’t care.
He walks straight into his private elevator.
We reach his office a minute later.
The moment we enter, he walks to his desk and pulls out a stack of papers.
He places them in front of me.
“Read.”
I sit down and start reading.
It’s a work contract. My employment contract.
But the more I read, the more my eyebrows slowly rise.
Clause one.
Normal.
Clause two.
Normal.
Clause three…
My lips twitch.
“No unnecessary interaction with coworkers.”
My lips twitch harder.
“Especially male coworkers.”
Clause four.
I stare at the page.
“…Employee is expected to assist Mr. Julian Thorne personally when needed.” and a bunch of other ridiculousness.
I flip another page.
My eyes widen slightly.
“Julian.”
“Yes?”
“I think you typed this yourself.”
He looks very calm.
“I did.”
I sigh.
“This is petty, and unnecessary.”
“Sign it.”
I keep reading.
Then I reach the job title…
Secretary?
He can't be serious. I facepalm.
“Julian.”
“Yes.”
“I was hoping for a more lower start,” I say carefully. “I don’t have any experience. Maybe we should consider a lower, less important position?”
He doesn’t even bother hear me out.
“Sign it.”
“But—”
“Eli.”
I look at him.
His expression is calm but firm.
“You’ll learn.”
I swallow.
Then I sign it.
“Don’t you already have a secretary?” I ask.
“I have multiple,” he replies. “And you’re going to get trained by one of them.”
That makes me feel slightly better.
Julian picks up the telephone.
He makes a short call.
“Send Ms. Carter in.”
A few minutes later, a woman walks into the office.
She looks professional and confident.
She bows slightly to Julian.
“You called for me, sir?”
Julian gestures toward me.
“This is Eli,” he says. “A new secretary. You will personally train him.”
Her eyes widen just slightly.
But she nods immediately.
“Of course, sir.”
She turns to me and smiles politely.
“Welcome to the work environment,” she says.
“Thank you,” I reply.
She gestures toward the door.
“Please, follow me.”
I stand up.
But just as we’re about to leave—
The office door opens suddenly.
Lovia walks in.
Perfect hair, perfect smile, perfect plastic face.
Her eyes land directly on me.
She holds my gaze for a moment.
Then she walks past me like I’m invisible.
She approaches Julian’s desk.
Then she leans lightly against it.
“So,” she says smoothly.
“What role are you assigning to me?”
Her smile widens slightly.
“Working closely with you wouldn’t be bad.”